WELCOME TO MODULE 10

Marketing resumes can be some of the most enjoyable projects to write.

There's something compelling about resumes for marketing professionals. Perhaps it's because much of what they do aligns with what we do to promote our resume-writing businesses?

Regardless of the reason, marketing resumes can also be the easiest to write. The most significant distinction to make when working with a marketing client is to first determine whether they are a generalist or a specialist.

For example, a marketing professional can manage everything under the marketing umbrella, or specialize in a specific area, such as:

• Organic & Paid Advertising
• Brand Management
• Media Relations
• Social Media
• Digital Marketing (e.g., Video, Webinars)
• Event Planning & Logistics (e.g., Trade Shows)
• e-Commerce

The role of a marketing professional can also encompass other areas, such as public relations.

For example, I wrote a resume for a Marketing Director at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh. A significant part of her role involved crisis communication, given the library's ongoing negative publicity stemming from controversial programming.

Another example from a few years ago: I wrote a resume for a marketing expert at the Make-A-Wish Foundation who was behind the Batkid event. My client and her marketing team promoted a child's wish of being Batkid for a day. They promoted it too well, actually. Because people took to the streets of San Francisco in November 2013, causing massive crowds and street shutdowns.

Maybe this is why I love marketing resumes. Clients sometimes work on the most impressive projects.

The scope of a marketing professional's responsibilities largely correlates with the size of their employer and marketing department.

Most often, marketing departments consist of only a few staff members, and those members work with external marketing agencies that handle specialized tasks, such as direct mail marketing, organic social media growth, and pay-per-click (PPC) advertising.

Job titles for marketing professionals vary. For example, there are:

• Social Media Managers
• Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Specialists
• Brand Ambassadors
• Digital Marketers
• Project Coordinators
• Marketing Assistants
• Marketing & Communications Coordinators
• Marketing/IT Managers
• eCommerce Marketing Manager

The most significant shift in marketing in recent years has been the alignment and collaboration between marketing departments and IT. Yup, you read that right.

Marketing and IT are increasingly working together to further advance marketing initiatives and goals relative to:

• Large Language Model (LLMs) Integrations
• AI Guardrail Implementations
• Data Architecture
• Department Security, Compliance & Data Privacy
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Platforms

You might have guessed it.

You'll be writing a resume for a marketing specialist who focuses on pay-per-click advertising, social media, and organic search for this module.

He's still in the early stages of his career, so his resume includes non-marketing roles, which may be challenging to address; be careful.

YOUR GOAL WITH THIS PROJECT IS TO steer all the content for all positions to what's relevant to marketing roles, if possible.

Okay, let's get started.

Regards,

1. VIDEOS TO WATCH

There are no videos for this module.

2. CONTENT TRANSFORMATIONS

Do you remember the 5Ws from a previous module? We sure hope that you do because we're providing you with additional examples on how to transform your content from basic to classy and fabulous.

EXAMPLE #1

Okay: Led marketing communications of 3 company brands.

Better: Led the conceptualization, planning, and development of marketing communications for 3 company brands.

Best: Led the conceptualization, planning, and development of MARCOM* (e.g., digital, direct mail, advertising) for 3 company brands, which consisted of 23 new product launches.

*MARCOM is a well-known acronym for marketing communications.

EXAMPLE #2

Okay: Managed relationships with 2 marketing agencies that produced digital creatives for the company.

Better: Managed relationships with 2 marketing agencies that produced digital creatives (e.g., branded infographics, social media updates, and video) for the company.

Best: Managed relationships with 2 marketing agencies that produced digital creatives (e.g., branded infographics, social media updates, and video) for the company. Grew leads by 2X in just 6 months.

 

EXAMPLE #3

Okay: Managed a $20M marketing budget.

Better: Audited and managed a $20M marketing budget, which supported video advertising activities. 

Best: Audited, forecasted, and managed a $20M marketing budget, which supported new media (e.g., video ads, online chat) and promotions of the company podcast.

 

EXAMPLE #4

Okay: Started a new marketing department. Hired staff and established SOPs respectively.

Better: Established a new marketing department, which involved setting a new budget. Hired staff and established SOPs respectively.

Best: Established a new marketing department, which involved setting a new $5.2M budget. Hired 6 new marketing staff members and established staff best practices and SOPs respectively.

 

EXAMPLE #5

Okay: Transitioned creative services from internal staff. Hired a full-service creative agency.

Better: Transitioned creative services from internal staff. Saved marketing spend by 30% after hiring a full-service creative agency.

Best: Transitioned creative services from internal staff. Saved marketing spend by 30% after hiring a full-service creative agency to develop a new company brand and website.